The messaging service will allow administrators to contact parents with district-wide phone messages. Parents will be contacted in the event of school closings, lock-downs or other emergencies. They will not receive alerts about sports schedules or other events, officials said.

The schools are also getting a mapping program that will help administrators to plan the best school bus routes and see if students could be better served with fewer buses.

Both programs will be paid for through revolving funds. The messaging service will cost about $3,000 and the bus program about $8,000, White said.